Pittsburgh Steelers vast receiver George Pickens has been visibly annoyed throughout latest video games as his variety of targets and massive performs have taken a big hit within the second half of the season. On Thursday, he addressed a few of the issues together with his lack of playmaking and manufacturing by stating that he can solely achieve this a lot with the routes he has been given.
Pickens informed Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Publish Gazette that he cannot really produce when he’s being asked to run three- and five-yard routes.
A fast take a look at the routes he was focused on throughout their Thursday evening loss to the New England Patriots reveals a surprisingly small route tree that stored him nearly fully close to the road of scrimmage.
Focusing on Pickens on performs like that’s not enjoying to his strengths in any respect. At this level in his profession, he isn’t probably the most polished route-runner on the staff, whereas he’s at his finest when he’s getting used as a vertical goal within the passing sport and being requested to go up and make powerful catches. He has demonstrated that skill on a number of events all through the primary two years of his profession and has proven flashes of being an impression participant.
He topped the 100-yard mark in three of his first six video games this season and had 27 receptions for 500 yards throughout that stretch. Since then, he has caught simply 22 passes for less than 267 yards within the seven video games which have adopted. That may be a night-and-day distinction.
A part of that’s because of the return of vast receiver Diontae Johnson and tight finish Pat Freiermuth from damage. There’s additionally the actual fact the Steelers have develop into far simpler at working the soccer within the second half of the season and have performed to that power extra usually. However one other a part of it’s the reality the Steelers offense has merely not been designed for large performs or vertical passing.
That is not solely irritating the staff’s followers, however it’s additionally irritating their most gifted vast receiver. It is also losing his best power.
Pickens won’t at all times be utterly vast open, however he’s the kind of vast receiver who doesn’t want 5 yards of separation to make a catch. He has demonstrated that he’s going to win numerous 50-50 leap balls and make powerful catches resulting from his athleticism, dimension and power.
The Steelers want him to make extra huge performs. Additionally they want to offer him extra of an opportunity to take action.